Dust charger for road plants



June 19, 192s. 1,674,194

. F. H. CUMMER DUST CHARGER FOR ROAD PLANTS Filed April 11, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l PIT-1 June 19, 1928. 1,674,194

F. H. CUMMER DUST CHARGER FOR ROAD PLANTS Filed April ll, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet .Patented .lune 19, 1928.

Unire stares FREDERICK n. oniviiiinn, or `CLinviata-nn nnleia'rs, omo.

DUST CHARGER FOR ROAD PLANTS.

Application led vApril 11, 1927. `Serial No. 182,940.

This invention relates to charging apparatus for usey in connection with road plants, such as plants for the preparation of asphalt or like road mixtures'.

Such mixtures usually require a certain proportion of fine dust handled in' bags and lifted by hand and dumped into the mixer, which is located at a fairly'high level, and require accurate proportioning of their ingredients. p Strict specifications for road construction require at least Aone responsible weighing operator upon the elevatedvplatform to insureproper feeding of theingredients into4 the mixer` as well as two laborers, one on the ground and the other on the platform, to handle the fine dust. One important object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a simple apparatus which eliminates one laborer and yet speeds up the whole plant. l Y

Another object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for weighing the line dust and elevating and delivering the sameby power'to the mixer, with the weighing and elevating under the contiol of one laborer on the ground, and the delivery to the mixer and return of the elevator to the ground under the control of the responsible operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a self-contained unit of this ltind which is of simple form and capable of connection to the plant or separation therefrom at will, as when the plant is moved from place to place, and which apparatus is also so ai"- ranged as to enable it to be readily driven by a power connection to the mixing plant.

further object is to provide animproved elevator including a traveling container for the fine dust, operating means suitable for operation by a driving connes tion from the main plant, and. controlv means for said container adapted for operation by one operator on the ground and another on the platform, together with means for delivering a weighed lcharge to the container and for discharging the container to the mixer.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and inpartwill appear morein detail'liereinafter.

In the drawings,which illustrate one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. l is a side elevation of the rear portion of anV asphalt plantl with the dust charger applied thereto; Fig. 2 is anenlarged detail of thel weighing mechanism atfthe .lower end of the dust charging apparatus;A Fig. 3 is a'detail.

side elevation lof the 'upper portion ofthe apparatus showing the containeron its carriage; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the elevating mechanism; Fig.' 5y is a sectional detailvof the saine taken in the plane of line 5 5,

Fig. l

Referring to thev drawings, pertinent structure of an asphalt plant of y typical ar rangement isv shown in Fig. l, the machine being large and heat/'y and adapted yfor movement when necessary upon wheels,"one of which is indicated at l,v and including a platform 3, bins 4 forthe coarser ingredients, a vweighing hopper 5, and a mixer 6.

The platform 3 may be at any suitable elevation above the ground level.v 7 enabling* the contents of the mixer 6 to be dumped directly into Wagons driven throughy the .space 6a under the platform for vthe purpose. In the operation ofthe plant accurately measured charges of dust should be delivered to the mixer 6, `preferably as directly` as possible from the ground level, thev delivery of the dust and all yother ingredients to the mixer `being under vthe control of a fairly skilled or responsible operator upon the platform 3.

.The present invention provides a frame l0 extending from the footing frame 9 to a point aboveV the-mouth portion il of a chute l2, a .carriage i3 movableupon the frame, a bucket or container 14C mounted for dumping movement upon thel carriage, and balanced in thefupr'ight position shown in Fig. l, and operating mechanism at the top y of the frame.

lThe 'footing frame 9 is secured in operative position in a small pitas indicated inv Fig. l, whereby the rreceptacle 8 is at a convenient low level to be loaded from the ground. Said receptacle may form part of anysuit'able weighing mechanism, generally indicated in Fig. 2, whereby the net weight of the' receptacle contents may be accurately ascertained.` It should also be adapted for dumping its contents into the elevator bucket, such as by havinga movable gate or bottom 15a, controlled by the handle 1,6. The frame l0 extendsinto the pit whereby the carriage 13,'whichy moves in the frame upon wheels 17 may be lowered sufficiently so vthat theA bucket 14 may receive thecontents ofthe'receptacle 8f .The frame l0 extends upwardly to ooit nection with a head frame 18 which in turn is detachably secured to the plant frame and carries the operating mechanism, which yincludes (F ig. 4) a shaft 19 carrying a sprocket wheel 2() connected by a chain with a sprocket (not shown) on a continuously rotating shaft of the plant. The frame 18 carries also the shaft 22. l

' Fast upon the shaft 19 is a sprocket 23 connected through chain to drive sprocket 24, loose upon the shaft 22, carrying a drum 26 provided with a clutch `member 27 cooperating with a. sliding clutch member 28 actuated by a grooved collar 29 provided with teeth 29a sliding but never leaving openings 29b in sprocket 24. The mechanism described connects the drum 26fto be driven by sprocket 20. From the drum a flexiblecable '30 extends to the carriage 13. The direction of rotation of sprocket 20 is such that upon engagement of the clutch the drum winds up the cable 30 and elevates the carriage 13. y

Clutch. member 28 is controlled by the bell crank lever 31 pivoted at 32 upon a member Y33 of the frame 18, one end of the bell crank carrying a pair of rollers 34 inthe groove of collar 29, and its opposite end 35 projecting laterally and having an abutment 35a to be engaged by a yielding bumper 13a on the carriage 13 as the same completes its upward travel, to automatically disengage the drum drive.

Secured to rotate with the drum is a gear 3G meshing with a gear 37 secured with a ratchet wheel 38. Upon the shaft 19 adjacent the ratchet wheel is an arm 39 carrying at its outer end an escapement pawl or detent pivotally mounted thereon and adapted kfor engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 38 The pawl as indicated in Fig. 5 has two arms, one adapted to enn gage the teeth of the ratchet, the other circumferentially thereof.

adapted to be moved` outward by the teeth to insure positive engagement with the wheel, whatever be the position of the pawl The drum rotates clockwise to elevate the bucket and carriage. Gear 37, with the ratchet'wheel 38, always rotates in a counter'- clockwise direction, Fig. 5, andthe pawl 4() idles over the ratchet teeth while the carriage is being elevated. Upon release of the clutch, however, the weight of the bucket and carriage will cause the drum to rotate reversely, and the ratchet wheel 38 therefore will rotate in reverse direction, with its` rotation limited by engagement of the pawl 40 with the ratchet wheel, whereby the speed of the shaft 19 controls that of the drum. The mechanism described may be enclosedby a suitable cover 41.

Connecting with the laterally extending arm of the bell-crank 31 is a rod 42 eX- tending downwards along the frame l0 to connection with a weighted .lever 43 acces sible to an operator at the ground level. and i tending to maintain itself in the position indicated in Fig. 1, with the drum clutch dis engaged until itis desired to elevate the bucket, when a throw of the lever 43 in the counterclockwise direction, F ig. 1 will engage the clutch, the weight on the lever then holding the clutch in engagement until the carriage `arrives at the upper limit of its travel and throws the lever arm 35 to disengage the clutch.

Pivoted at 44 on the frame 18 is a latch lever 45 carrying a Weight 46 and provided with a latch projection 47 engageable with a member 48 on the carriage 13, the cam portion 49 of the lever 45 allowing the portion. 47 to clear themember 48 as the carriage arrives at its topmost position. Connecting with the lever 45 is a pullrod 50 provided with a handle 51 within easy grasp of an operator on the platform 3, whereby` the operator by a pull upon the handle 51 may move the lever 45 to disengage the carriage and allow controlled vor governed downwardv travel of the bucket along the track 10, as described.

Pivotally mounted near the upper end of one of the members of the frame 10, ata point 52 in alignment with the ofthe bucket 14 in its carriage when latched by thelever 45 as described, is a lever 53 provided with a. Y-shaped member 54 vin the plane of a lug 55 projecting fromthe side y of its travel the lever 53 is adapted to engage the lug 55 for movement in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3 to dump the bucket and empty theV contents thereof into the mouth 11 of the chute 12. A pull rod 56 extends downwards from the upper extremity of the lever 53 within reach of an operator on the platform 3, for this purpose.

Operation of the charger, assuming the parts in the position indicated in F ig. 1 is as follows: The operator upon the ground level weighs a charge of dust inthe receptacle 8 and by a pull upon the lever 16 delivers it tothe bucket 14. He next throws the leverf43 to close the drum clutch, whereupon the bucket movesy upwardly along the frame 10. When itarrives at its upper pocall1 shown.

ible for the coarser ingredients the mainte- .Lorsica yother parts of the plant arefunctioning to deliver the coarser ingredients to the mixer 6, for example the drier 57 of the plant is delivering a dry heated component ,to kthe elevator 58 arranged .to discharge into the bins 4i through screening mechanism, not speci- .Vhile suoli aprocedure is feasnence of thefne clust in such an elevated bin has been found impossible owing to the characteristic of the line material tocaire and arch over the bin mouth; and, it is for this veri7 'reason that have provided .for the means described for delivering v the fine dusty directly tothe mixer 6.

What I claim is:

l; An asphalt plant having an elevated platform and a mixer adjacent said platform for receiving material to be mixed, and fine dust charging means therefor, comprisframe adapted to rest upon the ground ing a and to be attached to the plant frame, a

Vdumping container movable thereon from ground level to a platform position where it discharges to the mixer, operating means for said*l container, controlling means for said operating means operable `at `ground. Y

. operating meansl for said drum including level for causing the `container tol rise, and additional controlling means for said operating means operable at platform level for causing the container to descend.

y 2. An asphalt plant. having an'elevated platform and a mixer adjacent said platform for receiving material tobe mixed, and

fine dust chairgingmeans therefor, comprising a frame adapted to rest upon the ground andfto' be attached to' the lplant frame, a

`dumping container movableY thereon from ground level to a platform position/where it discharges to the mixer, operating means for saidA container, Acontrolling means for Asaid operating means operable at ground level for causing the contain erto rise, means operable at platform level for dumping rsaid container, and additional` controlling means for said operating means operable at,y platform level for causing theV container to descend. f

3. An asphalt plant platform and a mixer adjacentv said having anv elevated platform for receiving material to be inixed,.and

fine dust chai'gingmeans thereforn comprising a-frame adapted torest upon the ground and to be attached to' the plant frame,

dumping container movable thereon from ground level to a platform position where it discharges to the mixer, means located and 'operable at ground level for delivering a weighed charge to said containerv operating means for said container, controlling. means for saidr operatingmeans operable at ground level' for causing ther container' to rise, and

vcontainer to descend.

lfine dust charging means therefor, comprising a frame adapted to rest upon the ground and to .be attached to the plant frame, a

ldumping container movable thereon from ground level to a platform position where it discharges to the mixer, operating means for said container, .controlling means for said operating meansoperable at ground level for causing the container to rise','means operable at platform level for dumping said container, a chute arranged to receive the charge dumped from said container. and to conduct thel same to the mixer, and additional vcontrolling means for said koperating means operable at platform level'for causing the 5. A ne dust charger for asphalt-plants, comprising a fraineadapted to be supported on'the ground and detachablv secured with an asphalt plant, a carriage adapted for raising and lowering movei'nent in said frame on the ground and detachably secured with a carriage adaptedr for an asphalt plant,

raising and lowering movement in said .frame when so arranged, a dumping bucket 'oni said carriage, a drum on said ir'an'iein connection withsai'd carriage to raise the same, operating means' for' said drum includingmeans for controlling the speedr of said drum during lowei'ing'of said carriage, controlling means for said druml operable at und level for causing the carriage to rise,l means operable' from ani elevated position :on the plant to which the frame' may be secured for dumping said bucket, and

-controlling meansforsaid carriage operable from said elevated' position" on the"plant`,.for causing lowering of said carriage'.

ll A. fine dustlcharger'for asphalt plants, comprising a frame adapted to l whe-.nf so arranged, a dumping bucket o'n'- said Carriage,

v Y be supported on the ground' and detacliablv secured with a drinnL oniv said lframe' in connec-` lOl) tion .with said carriage to raise the same, operatingv means for said drum including means for controlling' the speed of said drum during lowering of said carriage, controlling `means for said drum operable at ground `ing oi said carriage and operable from said elevated position on the plant.

8. A tine dust charger for asphalt plants,

comprising a frame adapted tobe supported on the ground and detachably secured with an asphalt plant, a carriage adapted for raising and lowering movement in said frame when so arranged, a dumping bucket on said carriage, a drum on said frame in connection with said carriage to raise the same, operating means for said drum including means for Controlling the speed of said drum during loading' of said carriage,'means located and operable at ground level for delivering a weighed charge to said container, controlling means for said drum operable at ground level for causing the carriage to rise, latching means for securing the carriage in elevated position in said frame, means operable from an elevated position on the plant to which the frame may be secured for dumping said bucketland means operable fromy said elevated position on the plant for releasing said latching means to cause lowering of said carriage.

9. A line dust charger for asphalt plants, comprising a frame adapted to be supported on the ground and detachably secured with an asphalt plant, a carriage adapted for raising and lowering movement in said frame when so arranged, a dumping bucket on said carriage, a drum on said frame in connection with said carriage to raise the same, operating means for said drum including means for controlling the speed of said drum during loading of said carriage, means supported on said frame and operable at ground level for delivering a weighed Charge ,to said container, controlling means lfor said drum operable at ground level for causing the carriage to rise,=latching means for securing the carriage in elevated position in said frame, means operable from an elevated position on the plant to which the frame may be secured for dumping said bucket and means operable from said elevated position on the plant for releasing said latching means to cause lowering of said carriage.

10. A fine dustV charger for asphalt plants, comprising a frame ported onl the ground and detachably secured with anv asphalt plant, a carriage adapted for raising and lowering movement the frame to adapted to be sup-' carriage elevating actuation of said drum and `to engage during reverseV actuation `for said drum clutch operable'at ground level, and controlling means for said carriage operable from an elevated position on the plant to which' the frame may be secured,'for causing lowering of said carriage.

ll. A line dust charger for. asphalt plants,

comprising a frame adapted to be supported on the ground cured with an asphalt plant, a carriage adapted for raising and lowering movement in said frame when so arranged, a dumping bucket on` said carriage,v a drum on said frame in connection with said carriage to raise the same, operating means for said drum including a clutch engageable to actuate said drum to elevate said carriage, and an escapement adapted to over-run during carriage elevating actuation of said drum and to engage during reverse actuation of said drum to limit the lowering speed of said carriage, `controlling means for said drum clutch operable at ground level for causing the carriage to rise and engageable by the carriage at the upper extremity of disengage the clutch, latch means on said frame for maintaining the carriage in elevated position, means engageable with said bucket in said latched carriage position, for dumping the same and operable from plant to which the `iframe may be secured, and means operable from said elevated position on the plant, for releasing said latch' for causing lowering of said carriage.

l2. A tine dust charger for asphalt plants, comprising a frame adapted to be supported on the ground, and' detachably secured with an asphalt plant, a carriage adapted for raising and lowering movement in said frame when so arranged, a dumping bucket on said carriage, a drum connection with said carriage to raise the same, operating means for said drum comprising a shaft adapted to be driven b driving means on the plant, a second shaft carrying said drum, a member rotatable on said second shaft,` driving means between said member and said first namedv shaft, a clutch engageable to cause rotation of said said drum to limit the lowering speed of said carriage, controlling .means and detachably sean elevatedk position on theon said frame in l drum with said member, a member rotatnamed shaft and adapted to overrun said member` loose thereon during drum actuation to raise said carriage and to engage said loose member during reverse actuation of said drum to limit lowering movement of said Carriage, controlling means for said Clutch operable at ground level for causing the carriage to rise and engageable for release by said carriage 1n the upper extremity lo of its travel in said frame, latohing means for said Carriage in said elevated position thereof, means engageable with said bucket in said elevated position of said carriage and operable from an elevated position on the plant to which the frame may be secured for dumping said bucket, and means operable fromsaid elevated position on the plant for releasing said latch for causing lowering of said carriage. y

In 'testimony whereof I hereby aiiX my signature.

FREDERICK H. CUMMER. 

